Gurtinder Chahal December 2, 2013 Writing 1 Matt Moberly

Dear California Voter,

Medicine is rapidly advancing and is nowhere near where it was 20 years ago. Through the progression of medicine we have found cures for many deadly diseases such as polio, malaria, chickenpox and even tuberculosis. However, there are still many untreatable disease such as Asthma, AIDS, and cancer which cannot be treated with vaccines. Millions of people have died because of these diseases and your loved ones could be infected or are currently fighting the virus. Studies show that 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women are at risk of getting cancer. Imagine your parents or siblings were diagnosed with HIV or cancer, and the doctor says there is nothing you can do to help them. You would have to watch their pain as they go in for various scans and treatments every other week as they question themselves if it is actually helping. It doesnt have to be this way though! These untreatable diseases could possibly be treated by stem cell transplants and leave no trace of the virus afterwards. These viruses and infections will only become harder to cure and we have to look at the next generation of medicine which will be Stem Cells. We have to come together and realize the importance of Stem Cells in the future and vote for the continued funding of Stem Cell Research in California.

In 2004, California Proposition 71 was approved by voters in California. The turnout of voters was that around 60 percent voted yes and only 40 percent voted no. This proposition was initiated as a constitutional amendment in California and made conducting stem cell research a state right. The proposition allowed the sale of bonds to allocate $3 billion dollars over a ten year span to stem cell research and its facilities (Ballot Pedia). Prop 71 also created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which was held accountable for making grants and loans for stem cell research, facilities, or other research opportunities. Funding of stem cell research through the sale of bonds increased state revenue and also resulted in additional economic activity. Stem cells can perform many complex operations inside the human body but its basic definition is a cell with the ability to divide for indefinite periods and give rise to new specialized cells. There are two types of stem cells; embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult stem cells (ASCs). ESCs are found in 3-to 5-day-old embryos in the blastocyst which gives rise to the entire organism and ASCs are usually found in adult tissues such as bone marrow, muscle, and even the brain (Stem Cell Primer). All stem cells, regardless of their origin are unspecialized, which means they can give rise to specialized cells by dividing and renewing themselves. Embryonic stem cells seem to have the most potential because most adult stem cells generate the cell type of the tissue they came from. They cannot give rise to the cells of different tissue but recent experiments may prove this wrong. ESCs are made from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in a test tube. The embryos are then donated for research purposes. Even though ESCs are not derived from fertilized eggs inside of a woman it is still a very controversial topic to many people in California and the US.

Even though the morality of Stem Cell research is contested, stem cells have many benefits in medicine and the economy. In the medicine area stem cells will give us information about the events that happen during human development. Embryonic stem cells can help us identify how undifferentiated stem cells become the differentiated cells that form the tissues and organs (Stem Cell Primer). As you may know most birth defects and other serious medical conditions, like cancer, are caused by abnormal cell division. On the other hand, adult stem cells important potential application is to be used for cell-based therapies. This is where the stem cell will differentiate into the specific stem cell required to repair the damaged tissues. This will offer a renewable source of replacement cells to treat diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and even Alzheimers. People who have also suffered from major accidents and are barely living life can still hang on to that thread of hope that one day they will be able to be normal again. A quote from a Cal State Fullerton student tells why Stem Cell Research should be supported, ...an accident that has left Sarah with a severe brain injury, but we do know that with the continued support of stem cell research, one day, Sarah might just have the chance to live her life the way she has always envisioned (Daily Titan) The benefits of Stem Cell research also extends into the economy. Stem cells have the possibility to treat diseases that have high health care costs. By using a stem cell-based therapy disease treatments would cost a lot less. Stem Cell research is also expected to bring new companies to California that will provide high paying jobs. These companies facilities will also provide many construction jobs throughout the state. CIRM has 12 main facilities which generate 13,000 years of job employment and brings in around $100 million in tax revenue (CIRM). The CIRM has also made great progress and there are around 4,300 adult based

treatments and 26 embryo based treatments. (Sojourners) These treatments are helping save lives of people who were only living to get by. By funding stem cell research we are not only helping our economy but the lives of people in need and their families. Even with all the benefits from stem cells some people are still against stem cell research for various reasons. The main reason people are against stem cell research is because of ESCs. Only about 30 percent of American oppose stem cell research but 57 percent of the opposition based their views on religious reasons (CQ Researcher). They believe the study of ESCs are unethical because you are killing human embryos. However these embryos were donated to science. These embryos will help find cures to people that are already struggling with certain diseases and impairments. By not pursuing embryonic stem cell research we will be hindering our society. In how the future we will need to cure major diseases and stem cell therapy seems like our best bet. If push comes to shove later down the road will we sacrifice ourselves in order to save undeveloped fetuses? Obviously not, so in order to avoid the situation completely we should continue researching stem cells. Also there are many other types of stem cells and through research we can also greatly improve our knowledge of how the human body works.